The UCSD men’s and women’s track and field teams competed in the Feb. 28 Rossi Relays, held at Claremont College, posting several school records and earning a number of national qualifying performances.
Guardian file
Though it was a non-scoring meet, the Tritons trampled over their competitors with the help of several individual standouts, most of whom are veteran track stars that broke their own school records.
In the men’s 400-meter hurdles was sophomore Jon Patton, whose first-place, 53.06-second performance was an NCAA provisional qualifying performance, a UCSD school record, Rossi Relays meet record and a stadium record.
“Patton improved on his own school record, and his time was more than good enough for nationals,” head coach Tony Salerno said.
In the 100-meters, Triton sophomore sprinter Peiman Lahsaei timed in at 11.02, capturing the fourth all-time best position for the Tritons.
Senior Marcus Keller excelled in the triple jump, reaching a distance of 46 feet, 11.5 inches, good enough to take the third all-time best distance at UCSD.
Freshman sprinter Matt Maybeno took the UCSD seventh all-time best position in the 100-meter race with a time of 11.07.
The men’s 4×100 relay charged to a notably low combined time of 42.19, strong enough for the fourth-best all-time UCSD performance, while the 4×400 men’s relay finished with a time of 3:21.19, which slipped the team into place as the ninth-fastest in UCSD track history.
On the women’s side, sophomore hurdler Kaylin Siever garnered several awards with her powerful efforts. Siever finished in first place in the women’s triple jump with a distance of 39-3 that was an NCAA provisional qualifying performance, a UCSD school record and a meet and stadium record.
“The women’s team did particularly well, with a number of great performances,” Salerno said.
Senior Michelle Beebe threw an excellent 146-11 in the women’s javelin to place her in first with an NCAA provisional qualifying performance and a UCSD school record.
Women’s freshman long jumper Elisa Holiday reached a distance of 18-4, taking first place in the event and fourth-best all-time at UCSD.
Skilled shot put and hammer throw specialist Sagrario Hernandez took second place in the women’s shot with a throw of 45-8 and placed fifth with an NCAA provisional qualifying performance in the women’s hammer, throwing 158-8 for another NCAA provisional qualifying performance.
The UCSD women’s distance medley relay took second place with a time of 12:06, which is also a UCSD school record.
A slew of top-rate Division I opponents, including the University of Southern California, raced at the Rossi Relays, but the Division II Tritons seemed to stand out over the opposition.
The next meet will be the March 6 All-Cal Championship, in which the Tritons will take on several Division I schools, including UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Riverside and UCSB. UC Irvine will host the event.
